Arinze Onuaku is back to fill the lane and a void on the Charge roster.

Canton reacquired the big, burly Syracuse product today as a returning player. The Charge waived Zane Johnson to make room on the roster.

The 6-foot-9, 275-pound Onuaku was a D-League All-Star last year when he ranked fifth in the league in rebounding and field goal percentage. Onuaku averaged 12.6 points and 9.5 rebounds in 38 games with the Charge. He shot 56.4 percent from the floor.

"He's big and powerful. He rebounds," Charge Director of D-League Operations Mike Gansey said. "When he gets position in the lane, it's almost impossible to stop him. As he proved last year, when he's healthy he's arguably the best center in the league."

Canton's frontcourt is skilled and versatile, but it lacked a physical presence before Onuaku's arrival. That presence should come in handy when the Charge (2-0) host Springfield this weekend. The Armor have two NBA-caliber big men in 7-footer Jeff Foote and 6-10 Willie Reed.

Canton likely will play 6-9 Michael Lee on the wing more now that Onuaku is in town. Kevin Jones, Shane Edwards and Tyrell Biggs are Canton's other frontcourt players.

Onuaku, 26, went to training camp with the New Orleans Pelicans and made the opening-day roster. He played in three games with New Orleans before being waived earlier this month.

"We're hoping his stay with us isn't too long and he's back in the NBA soon," Gansey said.

The 24-year-old Johnson, who played collegiately at Arizona and Hawaii, played in two games for the Charge and averaged 5.0 points and 1.5 rebounds. Johnson is a big-time shooter with good size. But with veterans Robert Hite and Gilbert Brown due back from hamstring injuries at some point, the Charge were going to get crowded on the wing.